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'Jersey Boys' coming to Civic Center on March 14-19

Mariah Wellman, Special to the Register
Published 3:40 p.m. CT March 6, 2017

"Jersey Boys" is coming to the Civic Center on March 14-19.(Photo: Special to the Regster)

More than 24 million people have seen "Jersey Boys" throughout its 12 years in production, and now the show is coming back to the Des Moines Civic Center on March 14-19.

"Jersey Boys" is the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi.

The creative team houses Tony-award winning director Des McAnuff and composer from the original Four Seasons, Bob Gaudio.

Gaudio said the production idea for "Jersey Boys" started years ago while he was watching a movie, "The Deer Hunter."

“There’s a moment before the guys go off to war where they’re in a pool hall and they’re bidding farewell and sing ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You’ while playing pool,” Gaudio said. “It gave me a realization that there’s another place for our music other than radio.”

Gaudio said that impactful moment gave him the idea of performing songs in the theater, and it was forever implanted into his brain. He watched other groups’ music hit the stage, like "Mamma Mia," and the “fires were lit” from then on.

The music in the production spans many years and includes hit songs like “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”

“It’s a long story to tell,” Gaudio said. “You drop in Frankie Valli solo records, which is a long cry from ‘Sherry.’ It made for a very interesting catalog. Even the opening of the show is a rap version of ‘What a Night.’ They fashioned (the music) and the story was something that no one has a clue about, I don’t believe.”

When the production was still in the planning stages, with the working title "Oh What a Night," McAnuff was brought on as the director. He was so impressed with the plans that before the script was finalized, McAnuff was already designing the production.

When it was time to find cast members to play The Four Seasons, McAnuff decided to search on both coasts. Connecting both New York and California actors, they were able to create the original cast as accurately as possible, including the demanding role of Valli.

“All of the roles are demanding,but Frankie is particularly challenging,” McAnuff said. “A huge vocal range and a lot of singing, more than anyone else.”

Because they found Valli to be such a demanding role, McAnuff said they began holding what they called “Frankie Camp” before actually holding auditions for the role. The actors auditioning would be sent through a kind of training camp, learning dance moves and how to vocalize.

“We even had a vocal coach and she would teach them how to protect their voices,” McAnuff said. “We also would give them acting work on certain scenes, and only after that would I audition them myself.”

Gaudio said the way McAnuff and the rest of the team connected the music and the story brings out the emotion and the peaks and valleys of the group’s journey.

“The way they put it together ... I think that’s where the magic is,” Gaudio said.

The production truly is an inside look at what a rock and roll group goes through. The intimacy on stage, and giving the audience a raw look at The Four Seasons' struggles, challenges and triumphs gives insight behind the celebrity status.

McAnuff said even if audience members don’t necessarily know the music of The Four Seasons, they still will find the production compelling.

“As soon as they sit down and hear these songs, they’ll realize they may hear them all the time,” McAnuff said. “They are part of our culture.”

Gaudio said those who do recognize the music appreciate the skill with which it is connected to the plot.

“People enjoy the fact that its familiar music,” Gaudio said. “It’s instant recognition and if the story and production are great, it should be around for a long time, and that makes me happy.”

If you go

"Jersey Boys" is part of the 2016-17 Willis Broadway Series, presented by Des Moines Performing Arts. Tickets are available at DesMoinesPerformingArts.org, the Civic Center Ticket Office, by phone at 515-246-2300 or on the Des Moines Performing Arts app (available for Android and IOS users).